Sold June 2023 Back to Archive

An interesting old 9 1/2 inch gauge locomotive, believed to have been built pre-war using Bassett Lowke castings. Kept on a private railway in Berkshire for nearly fifty years and sharing a shed with around twenty other locomotives, it had only occasional use over the years,

There is a good deal of history for the engine dating back to the 1970s, with correspondence at the time of purchase and subsequently with several well-known engineers in the miniature steam world. Prior to that it's early history is somewhat obscure, including when, where - and by whom - it was originally built.

Some time after purchase in 1977 the engine went to Ray Hammond of Basingstoke for work which included repainting. The cab was the subject of correspondence at that time, plans were afoot to remodel it.

The boiler is riveted steel with copper firebox - on hydraulic test there were various drips although it appeared structurally sound; however it would need lifting and the cladding removed to conduct a more thorough test if recommissioning for steam.

In recent times the engine lay in the shed seized - it's recently been freed off but has a susceptibility to stick if left - first job in any restoration would be to have the cylinders and valve chests apart.

The engine and tender appears to be complete although missing the offside water gauge and top fitting for the nearside one.

Built to a nominal 2 inch scale, the engine could, with some work, be regauged to 10 1/4 inch gauge - alternatively, in deference to its history, one might consider restoring it in its original form to run on a purpose laid 9 1/2 inch gauge railway.